Thursday January 26, 2006
Pomelo is a must-have,but rainy weather has slowed ripening process
By CHRISTINA KOH
IPOH: The rainy weather has slowed the ripening of pomeloes here, creating an even higher demand for the auspicious fruit during the Chinese New Year period.
Pomelo seller Bebe Chan Shann Hong, who helps her husband Simon Phon with his pomelo business, said that some sellers were holding back stock for the festival.
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ROUND AND JUICY: Chan inspecting pomeloes at her husband’s orchard in Ipoh. The orchard is a recipient of the Malaysian Farm Certification for Good Agricultural Practice. |
Tambun Valley Pomeloes orchard.
“Although some sellers will be raising their prices because of the demand, we won’t.”
Chan, 30, said this was because they wanted customers to taste their fruits, which had recently received the Agriculture Department’s Malaysian Farm Certification for Good Agricultural Practice last July.
She expects to sell about 15,000 fruits for the Chinese New Year period, which is a peak season for pomelo sellers besides the Mid-Autumn Festival.
She said pomeloes were traditionally sought after as festive gifts as its Cantonese name, Loke Yau, was similar to the word for abundance.
“Did you know that in ancient China, only emperors were allowed to feast on pomeloes?” she asked.
Having spent 20 years helping her mother sell pomeloes at the famous stalls along Jalan Raja Dr Nazrin Shah (formerly Jalan Gopeng), Chan noticed that different people had different tastes.
“For instance, the Chinese prefer the sweet pomeloes while foreigners like the sour variety,” she said, adding that the fruits were exported to Amsterdam, Canada and Hong Kong.
“The nice thing about the sour pomeloes is that you can eat it with soy sauce or salt. They’re also great for salads and juices.”
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